"Just three years ago, at the very beginning, we saw what was happening, Gov. Abbott really stepped it up, and has done an amazing job securing the border."
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN, Texas – “The United States is dealing with more deadly consequences than we have in our entire lifetime because of President Biden’s open border policies. It did not have to be this way,” said Governor Abbott while hosting the former and 45th President, Donald Trump, for a Border Security Tour & Briefing with State Officials in Eagle Pass, Texas, on Thurs., Feb. 29th, 2024.
"Unless and until President Biden steps up and does the job that he has the power to do already, Texas will continue to secure the border to protect and defend America from his disastrous border crisis," said Gov. Abbott, prior to leading Mr. Trump on a tour of portions of Texas' comprehensive border security operations at Shelby Park – and discussing the unprecedented actions taken by Texas to secure the border in President Biden’s absence.
"President Trump put in place four policies that led to the lowest illegal border crossing in about four decades. What President Biden did was eliminate all those effective policies and fail the American people by aiding and abetting illegal entry."I thank President Trump for coming to Texas, literally on the border itself, to see Texas’ unprecedented border security efforts himself," said the governor.
Earlier this month, Governor Abbott announced that Texas is building a Forward Operating Base in the Del Rio sector to house Texas National Guard soldiers who are responding to President Biden's border crisis.
- READ MORE: Gov. Abbott Expands Border Security Operations in Eagle Pass
- The Texas Military Department has acquired 80 acres of land in Eagle Pass to construct a Forward Operating Base that will house up to 1,800 Texas National Guard Soldiers, with the ability to accommodate an additional 500 for deployment in response to the Biden Border Crisis.
Prior to holding a joint press conference for national media, Governor Abbott held a briefing to update President Trump on Texas’ ongoing border security efforts to do the job the Biden Administration refuses to do — secure the border.
"The Governors of Arizona and California have not done a thing to prevent people from flowing through their borders," said President Trump.
"Just three years ago, at the very beginning, we saw what was happening, and Governor Abbott really stepped it up and has done an amazing job in securing the border.
"Texas is very secure, and it is going to be even more secure by the time you finish," said the former president.
"Just three years ago, at the very beginning, we saw what was happening, and Governor Abbott really stepped it up and has done an amazing job in securing the border.
"Texas is very secure, and it is going to be even more secure by the time you finish," said the former president.
Governor Abbott and President Trump were joined at the press conference by:
National Border Patrol Council (NBPC) President Brandon Judd- Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Deputy Director Freeman Martin
- Texas Adjutant General Major General Thomas Suelzer, and
- Texas Border Czar Mike Banks (at right, to Gov. Abbott's left.)
Deputy Director Martin, Major General Suelzer, and Border Czar Banks touted the multitude of effective tools and strategies deployed by Operation Lone Star to secure the Texas-Mexico border.
First, Deputy Director Martin lauded the work DPS troopers have done under Operation Lone Star to stop the flow of fentanyl into the country, highlighting how Texas law enforcement has seized over 468 million lethal doses of deadly fentanyl — enough to kill every man, woman, and child in America.
Major General Suelzer then walked former President Trump through the Texas National Guard’s efforts to protect and defend the Texas-Mexico border in the Biden Administration’s absence, detailing their work to take control of Shelby Park to curb illegal crossings.
Additionally, Border Czar Banks praised Operation Lone Star’s border security measures that have decreased in illegal border crossings into Texas, thanks to the Texas National Guard soldiers and DPS troopers.
First, Deputy Director Martin lauded the work DPS troopers have done under Operation Lone Star to stop the flow of fentanyl into the country, highlighting how Texas law enforcement has seized over 468 million lethal doses of deadly fentanyl — enough to kill every man, woman, and child in America.
Major General Suelzer then walked former President Trump through the Texas National Guard’s efforts to protect and defend the Texas-Mexico border in the Biden Administration’s absence, detailing their work to take control of Shelby Park to curb illegal crossings.
Additionally, Border Czar Banks praised Operation Lone Star’s border security measures that have decreased in illegal border crossings into Texas, thanks to the Texas National Guard soldiers and DPS troopers.
